Lightbown



(No Model.)

' W. L..-LIGHTBOWN.

POLICHNIPPERS.

PatentedJune 28 (No Model.)

' W. L. LIGHTBOWN.

POLICE NIPPBRS.

No. 365,614. Patented June 28, l887..

" UNITED STATES PATENT Orricis.

WILLIAM L. LIGHTBOWN, OF \VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

POLICE-NIPPERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 365,614, dated June 28, 1887.

Application filed May 3, 1887.

prisoner by the wrist and holding him securely until he can be takento a place of confinement,

, or otherwise secured.

I The object of the invention is to provide a simple, convenient, and effective implement .that can be quickly applied or removed without difficulty, and by means of which a prisoner can be securely held with one hand, leaving the other hand of the officer free. for' defense or other duty, if needed.

To this end my invention consists of a police nippers embodying the peculiarities of construction hereinafter described and claimed. In the annexed drawings, illustrating the lnvention, Figure 1 is a perspective View of my improved grapple or nippers,showing the jaws closed in normal position. Fig. 2 is an edge View of the handle portions of the nippers. Fig. 3 is a section through the shank portions of the nipper-jaws at the point where they are pivotally connected. Fig. 4 is a side view of the nippers,showing the jaws opened, a portion of one shank being broken away to show a spring that may be placed around the pivotal connection. Fig. 5is a perspective view of the spring detached. Fig. 6 is asection through the nipper-shanks, showing the pivot and spring.

Fig. 7 is a perspective detail view of a portion of one jaw-shank, showing the recess for receiving one-half of the spring.

The grappling implement, as shown, comprises two corresponding parts or members,

' A B, of like size and form, having a pivotal connection at or near the center.

Each member of the implement consists of anipper-jaw, a, having a shank, b, and a hand-1oop, c, by which the implement is grasped and manipulated. At the j unction of the jaws a and shanks b the opposite members, A and B, are connected by a pivot-pin, d, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 6, and each member is shouldered or rabbeted in a well-known manner, as shown, to bring Serial No. 236,992. (No model.)

the opposing jaws aainto the same plane, and 7 yet allow their shanks and handles to pass each other freelywith a swinging movement in op erating the implement. The free ends of the curved or semicircular nipper-jaws a a may be made to abut directly, or they may be slightly turned outward at a, as shown, to avoid pinching or bruising the flesh.

,The inner face of each handle-loop 0, near or at the center of its cross-bar c, iscut away on an incline, as shown in Fig. 2, to form a shoulder, e, which is adapted to interlock with a corresponding shoulder, e, on the inner face of the opposite handle. These shoulders e e are preferably so located as to interlock when the handles 0 c are parallel, as shown in Fig. 1, and the jaws closed. As will be seen, the curved jaws to a are of such length that their ends a a do not come quite together when the shoulders e c are in contact, and the pivoted members A and B, when closed, are thus allowed sufficient play between the opposing ends a a and shoulders c e to permit an adjustment of the jaws a a to different sizes ofwrists.

It may be remarked that the members A and B are so connected as to move freely on each other, and are capable of being sprung slight-1y apart to disengage the shoulders c e and permit the jaws a a to open by gravity. v

In order to facilitate a ready disengagement of the interlocking shoulders e e, the ends of the handles 0 c are flared or turned outward at f, as shown in Fig. 2, to afford a hold for the fingers in opening the implement If desired, a spring, 9, can be provided to. hold theinterlocking shoulders eein close engagement whenthe, jaws are closed, and to force the jaws a a open, as shown in Fig. 4, when the handles 0 c are sprung apart and the shoulders e c disengaged. In this forfn of construction each shank b will be provided on the inner side with a circular recess, h, as shown in Fig. 7, to receive one-half of the spring and in the center of this recess h will be a sleeve or tubular boss, 70, to receive and support the pivot d, on which the members A and B turn. The spiral spring 9 is placed in the recesses h h around the sleeves k k, and has its opposite. ends bent outward, as shown in Fig. 5, and engaged in the shanks b b, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6. When the jaws a a are closed, the spring 9, if employed, will tend to hold the handles c a parallel to each other, with the shoulders c e in contact and the jaw ends a a slightly apart, as shown in Fig. 1. If it is desired, however, to adjust the jaws a more closely to grasp a smaller wrist, the handles 0 0 can be made to slip slightly past each other under the pressure of the operatorsfingers until the ends a, a 01" the nipper-jaws come closely together. By exerting a moderate pressure with the fingers at either flaring ends of the handles 0 they can be readily and quickly forced apart sufficiently to disengage the interlocked shoulders c 0, when the handles can be instantly slipped by each other, assisted by the tension of the spring 1 ifsaid spring is employed, thereby causing the jaws a a to open and release the wrist.

\Vhilc the spring 5 is a useful attachment to the nippers, it is obvious that it is not essential, and it may therefore be dispensed with if it is desired to simplify the construction and reduce the cost of the implement.

In manipulating the nippers they can be grasped in one hand, either with the fingers on the outside of the handles or in the handleloops, as most convenient. A very firm grip can be obtained by placing the fingers on opposite sides of theshanks M, and with the handles c c in the palm of the hand, leaving the thumb free to assist in holding the device or to slip thehaudles past each other in releasing the jaws.

XVith very little practice the implement can be used successfully in one hand to take and secure a prisoner, thus enabling the officer to have one hand free. It will also be observed that the construction of the nipper-jaws and their handles is so simple and uncomplicated that the device can be readily and quickly ap plied or removed-without inconvenience 01' undue violence, and without risk of injury to the hand or fingers of officer or prisoner.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is- 1. A police-nippers composed of two pivotally-conneetcd members, each having a curved jaw, a shank, and a handle-loop, said members being formed and connected substantially as shown,whereby the opposing jaws are brought into the same' plane and the handle loops adapted to pass each other with a swinging movement in operating the jaws, substantially as described.

2. A police-nippcrs composed of two pivotall y-connected members, each having a curved jaw, a shank, and a handle provided with a shoulder to interlock with a similar shoulder on the other handle, substantially as described.

3. A police-nippers composed of two pivotally-connccted members, each having a curved jaw, a shank, and a handle-loop provided with a locking-shoulder and with outwardly-flared ends, substantially as described.

4. A policenippers composed of two pivot ally-connected members, each having a curved jaw, a shank, and a handle provided with a locking device, said members being pivoted at the junction of each jaw with its shank, and having a spring located in said shanks and surrounding the pivotal conneetion, substantially as d cscribed. 70

In testimony whereof I affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

V. L. LTGI'ITBOXVN.

\Vitnesscs:

James L. NoRRIs, Jos. L. CooMus. 

